Story Snap Shot: County provides funds to fix utilities along Downs Street

A plan to subsidize the utilities along Downs Street received a serious jolt forward, Ridgecrest Interim City Manager Dennis Speer reported at Wednesday’s city council meeting.

Comment

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Jan. 25, 2013 at 7:00 AM

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Jan. 25, 2013 at 7:00 AM

RIDGECREST

“The Kern County Board of Supervisors, by resolution, reallocated some of their Rule 20A money, for underground utility districts, in the amount of $2.3 million to the city of Ridgecrest,” Speer reported to the council. “That along with the amount we have currently from our own Rule 20A monies should be enough to proceed with the undergrounding of Downs.”

This earned a enthusiastic cheer from Ridgecrest resident Dave Matthews, who sat in the council chambers.

Rule 20 is a set of guidelines set by the California Public Utilities Commission when lowering overhead power lines and utilities to underground facilities.

According to CPUC’s guidelines, “Rule 20A projects are paid for by all SCE ratepayers, not just those who live in locations where facilities will be undergrounded. City and county governments choose these projects, using a process that includes public participation,”

Speer said however, that additional steps were needed before the city went forward.